Industry Reacts to Dateline NBC Segment on ‘Dry Labbing’

A recent Dateline NBC segment concerning dietary supplements focused on the practice of fraudulent analytical testing practices known as "dry labbing," in which lab results pertaining to the potency and identity of ingredients as labeled are suspected of having been deliberately manipulated or fabricated.

A recent Dateline NBC segment concerning dietary supplements focused on the practice of fraudulent analytical testing practices known as "dry labbing," in which lab results pertaining to the potency and identity of ingredients as labeled are suspected of having been deliberately manipulated or fabricated.

"There are challenges in the dietary supplement industry in that laboratories supplying fictional results in lieu of performing appropriate analytical tests may mislead their clients and the public. This is a practice known as 'dry labbing,'" said Frank Jaksch, founder of ChromaDex, who appeared as an industry expert for the story. "The 'Dateline NBC' investigative segment was an important first step in addressing this problem. Consumers need to have confidence that what is on the label matches what is in the product."

Steve Mister, president and CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Washington D.C. said the trade association is concerned when a few companies engaging in fraudulent and criminal activity overshadow the legitimate products sold by responsible companies. “By law, every single bottle of dietary supplements should contain what is on the label and what is on the label should be in the bottle. We take seriously the allegations raised by this television program of fraudulent laboratory practices, and urge the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use its ample legal authority to take legal action against the companies involved in these illegal activities.”

Responsible companies follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) regulations that became fully effective in 2010, he added. “These rules prescribe step-by-step requirements for the manufacturing and testing of dietary supplements—from the raw ingredients coming into a plant to the finished products headed for consumers—and place absolute responsibility on the manufacturers and distributors, including the actions of any testing labs they hire.”

The association called on FDA to take strong enforcement action against both the companies and the testing labs that do not make safety their top priority, Mr. Mister said. “We advise consumers to choose wisely when purchasing supplement products; ask your healthcare practitioner what supplements are right for you, buy from companies with strong reputations, and seek out products from companies you know and trust.”

Jeff Wright, president of the Natural Products Association (NPA), Washington, D.C., added his comments. “Consumers can trust what they read on the labels of dietary supplements. We share the concern about the issue of ensuring that products contain what the label claims and are not contaminated. This issue is highlighted, from time to time, in most consumer products industries, including foods, drugs and toys.”

NPA supports the goal of superior quality within all industries, he added.

“Fortunately, consumers are smart enough to understand that a few or occasional lapses in quality assurance should not translate into suspicion of an entire category of products, especially one with a strong history of safety. Otherwise, people may not eat eggs, spinach, tomatoes or pistachios today.”

NPA continues to support government and industry efforts to produce dietary supplements according to GMPs while also eliminating drugs wrongly labeled as supplements. “NPA has been steadfast in its support for increased resources for the Food and Drug Administration,” said Mr. Wright. “We also support government action against any laboratories that may use improper testing methods. We fully support strong rules to make sure that what’s on the label is what’s in the bottle. NPA has been a leader in industry efforts to attain this goal through our TruLabel and GMP certification programs.”

Mr. Wright concluded by saying, “It’s important to note that dietary supplements help millions of Americans address nutritional deficiencies and maintain and improve their health.”